Float



May 9, 1933. c. c. HARRIS ET AL FLOAT Filed May 6. 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet lciw May 9, 1933 c. c. HARRIS ET AL 1,908,420

FLOAT Filed May 6, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 9, 1933 VUNIT.enerrar-Es PATENT opl-*1GB CRL C. HARRIS AND HAROLD CADWEL'L, OF ORANGE,'MASSACHUSETTS; SAID CADWELL'-ASSIGNOR TO SAID HARRIS i FLOATApplication filed May 6, 1932. .'Serial INU.. 99,698.

A AThe principal objects of'this invention are to provide a vfloat forsports use and safety purposes without cross rods, Aend rods, or textilecovering; to provide a `construction which can be made at a very lowcost and to provide a 4construction which will be strong, durable, lightand inexpensive.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

1o Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1is a plan of a float constructed in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an edge view as indicated by the arrow 2 in Fig. l;

' Fig. 3 is a perspective View ofthe central parts of the deviceseparated to show the construction;

Fig. 4l is a view of the side rods and their l connecting features;

Fig. 5 is a plan showing a modification;

Fig. 6 is a separated perspective view of the same;

Fig. 7 is a plan of another modification,

and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view thereof on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

The ioat is designed to be used as a swimming iioat for use at bathingbeaches for the assistance of the bathers to hold them up when swimmingor, in larger sizes, it can be used as a raft and furthermore as a lifepreserver.

In the form shown on the rst sheet of drawings, the central main part ofthe device 10 preferably is constructed of balsa Wood or other verybuoyant material. It can be made up of several pieces secured togetherby cement or any fastening devices that may 4.0 be desirable but is aunitary piece which will hold together in the water. It is intended tobe covered all over with paint or other waterproof material to keep thewater from getting into the grain of the wood and reducing its floatingcapacity and eventually causing the wood to deteriorate. Preferably itis made of rectangular shape with two central opposite V-shaped grooves11 along its ends.

The float is provided with end bumpers 12 of pine or other wood, alsopreferably coverbumpers are'rounded preferably 4to ,avoid e ed withwater-.proof paint or varnish. These Vtwo strips extend .along.theendsof the balsa w-ood and the grain is .at right 4angles tothegrain of ythe balsa wood. yThe .endsof these corners which might ,injurethe .bathers and .at `the 'inner edge of each ,pieceisa ,continu- VousV-shaped `projection 13 adapted .to lit within .the V-shaped grooves 11.

These ends serve as {bumpersto protect the fGc lighter andmore fragilebalsa wood. Bythe use of the tongues or projections 1.3 .onthe pine ends12 and by their projection into thegrooves 11 of .the-balsa wood, .thewarping of Lthe balsa wood is prevented and further- 565 more thewarping of the pine ends also is restrained. :For this .reason the4article ,Will maintain a level andjflatsurface onfboths'ides under thesevere conditions to which floats are subjected. A u'D Extending intorecesses "14 ,inthe ends 12 and also Ain the'balsa Wood vpartl'Oare pins15 of maple or .other strong Wood ha'ving heads 16 which are perforatedtogprovide for the ksupportof side rods 17 which .also `are 17.5

{formed off maple `or .the like. lThe pins k15 are fixed in place bymaple dowe'ls 18 passing preferably all the way through thefpine endsand the bal-sa wood center. 'These side rods serve the usual purposeandalso serve tto yr8.0 hold the device together.

By the use of ithese pins 15, .the cross `rods which extend clearthrough .the .float .inaccordance with my :previous {floats areeliminated. By covering all ,the Woodenpartswith the water-proof paintor varnish .the .necessity for using canvas 'isalsoelirninated Theornamentation, ifany, is secured by painting or varnishing the parts.Thefend .pieces ,not only strengthen the balsa wood centers .but alsoser-ve as bumpers when .the lfloatengages some vother Ifloat vorstationary object. The Vbalsa wood center is water-,proof `as' .statedandhas a hardand durablesurface. A i

'In the form shown .infFigs .5 and 6,1the95 central pins 15 are omitted.It will beobvious that the side rods 17 `and ends .12 serve to Vhold thebalsa woodcenter v10 .in position.

'Two pins 15 and .dowels 18 .are lused 'on yeach side. The ends 12also.serve A,to strengthen 'i100 the balsa wood center 10 and asbumpers. Longitudinal dowels 20 may be used to prevent the center 10from sliding out sideways.

In the form shown in Figs. 7 and 8 these features are all present, butfor the balsa wood float is substituted a thin walled waterproof box 21.In this way a good light float is provided. In case of leakage the watercan be drained out through an opening normally closed by a plug 22.

This float constitutes a compact device the Whole length of which istaken up by the wood and which is not provided with end rods locatedbeyond the floating elements of the float. The side rods of course arespaced from the sides of the wood center and permit the bathers to graspthem and hold themselves up by means of the float. The pins are alldriven in tight so that they will not be loosened by the use of thedevice or by its alternate wetting and drying out and the pins 16 aresecured in place permanently.

Although we have illustrated and described only one form of theinvention we are aware of the fact that modifications can be madetherein by any person skilled in the art without departing from thescope of the invention as expressed in the claims. Therefore we do notwish to be limited in this respect but what we do claim is:

l. As an article of manufacture, a ioat comprising a center of balsawood, or the like, having horizontal grooves in its opposite ends andapair of end pieces of stronger wood extending throughout the said endsand having integral longitudinal proj ectionsV on their inner surfacesextending into and fitting said* grooves, for the purposes described.

2. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a central portion ofbuoyant material and end pieces located in Contact with y the endsthereof and secured thereto, a series of pins extending into the ends ofthe end pieces and into the sides of the buoyant material, said pinshaving heads with perforations in alignment, side rods extending throughsaid perforations, and means for permanently securing said pins inposition.

3. As an article of manufacture, a float comprising a buoyant centerhaving grooves in its opposite ends and a pair of end pieces of strongwood extending throughout'the said ends and having projections on theirinner surfaces extending into and fitting said grooves, a series of pinsextending into the ends of the end pieces and into the sides of thebuoyant center and arranged in alignment along the sides of the float,said pins having heads with perforations in alignment, and siderodsextending through said perforations. e 4. As an article ofmanufacture, a float comprising a central buoyant portion and end pieceslocated in contact with the ends thereof and secured thereto, a` pair ofpins on and having horizontal projections on theiry inner surfacesextending into and tting said grooves, side rods secured tothe oppositesides of the ends and spaced from the sides and in the plane of saidcenter, and means for preventing the ends from movingsideways withrespect to the center.

In testimony whereof we have hereuntoaffixed our signatures.

CARL o. HARRIS. HAROLD w. cADwELL.

